How does Matthew 27:48 fulfill Old Testament prophecy? Passage in Focus Matthew 27:48 – “One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.” Immediate Narrative Setting Jesus, already scourged and crucified, has cried, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (v. 46) echoing Psalm 22:1. The crowd mishears Him as calling Elijah. Verse 48 records the offer of sour wine (Greek: όξος, oxos) on a reed—a Roman soldier’s standard field drink, posca—given in apparent mock mercy but under divine orchestration. Principal Prophecy: Psalm 69:21 Psalm 69:21 : “They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” 1. Written c. 1000 BC by David, yet explicitly messianic (cf. Romans 15:3). 2. Preserved in both Masoretic Text and DSS 4QPsᵃ (4Q88), predating the crucifixion by at least two centuries. 3. Septuagint (LXX Psalm 68:22) uses ὄξος (oxos), the exact term Matthew employs, underscoring intentional fulfillment. Supporting Prophetic Echoes Psalm 22:15—“My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth”—forecasts the Messiah’s thirst. Isaiah 53:4–5 underscores His vicarious suffering. Together these psalms form a composite prophecy Matthew strings through his passion account: casting lots (Psalm 22:18 → Matthew 27:35), mockery (Psalm 22:7–8 → Matthew 27:39–43), and the vinegar (Psalm 69:21 → Matthew 27:48). Typological Layer: Hyssop and Passover John 19:29 specifies “hyssop.” Exodus 12:22 commands hyssop for applying Passover blood; Numbers 19:18 uses it in purification rites. By placing the sponge on a “reed” (Matthew) / “hyssop” (John), Scripture depicts Jesus as the Passover Lamb whose blood delivers from judgment (1 Corinthians 5:7). Harmony of the Gospel Accounts • Mark 15:23 records a first offer of wine mixed with myrrh—refused by Jesus. • Mark 15:36 / Matthew 27:48 describe a second offering—accepted. • John 19:28–30 explains Jesus’ deliberate fulfillment: “Jesus, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I thirst.”” No contradiction exists; two distinct drinks, one prophetic purpose. Historical Plausibility Posca (sour wine diluted with water) was ubiquitous among Roman legionaries for hydration and sterilization (Pliny, Nat. Hist. 23.22; Josephus, Bell. Jud. 5.6.1). Archaeological residues of tartaric acid on canteens found at Masada match first-century posca composition, verifying the setting. Theological Significance 1. Demonstrates Christ’s conscious submission: He orchestrates fulfillment even in extremis (John 10:18). 2. Confirms Scripture’s unity: A millennium-old psalm materializes precisely at Calvary. 3. Highlights substitutionary atonement: the bitter draught mirrors the bitter cup of wrath He drinks in our stead (Isaiah 51:17; Matthew 26:39). Answering Common Objections • “Gospel writers invented the event.” – Psalm 69 existed centuries earlier; independent witnesses (Matthew, Mark, John) corroborate the detail; Roman practices support its natural occurrence. • “Prophecy is vague.” – The verbatim match of oxos/vinegar, the context of mockery, and the sequence of other Psalm 69 elements in the Passion narrative render the specificity compelling. Conclusion Matthew 27:48 fulfills Psalm 69:21 with precision, confirms accompanying suffering-servant prophecies, and enriches Passover typology. The event’s linguistic, historical, and manuscript evidence collectively validate the reliability of prophecy and the identity of Jesus as the promised Messiah. |
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